Chapter 36

"Fifth rank! You've already become a Fifth-Rank Great Wu Shi!" Liang Liang Jingtang leapt to his feet, his face flushed with excitement.

"Fifth rank! Oh my heavens!" Xiao Xiao Qiang, seated beside Xia Daoming, let out an exaggerated shriek, pressing her hands tightly against her chest as if her heart couldn't bear the shock—causing Xia Daoming to glance at her involuntarily.

"A Great Wu Shi at twenty-five? Just like I was back then!" Master Yuchi Xiao stared blankly, unable to believe it.

He knew how much hardship he'd endured, how many desires he'd suppressed, just to become a Great Wu Shi at twenty-five.

Only after turning thirty, seeing his chance of reaching sixth rank fade, did he begin to let loose—occasionally visiting Yao Hua Pavilion to listen to songs and discuss the Dao of life with the girls there.

But Xia Daoming? Young, with four women kept at home, living a life of "debauchery and excess"—yet he too became a Great Wu Shi at twenty-five! This left Master Yuchi Xiao stunned, disbelief gripping him.

"Master Yuchi Xu Shixiong, you're overthinking it. You entered Master's door long ago, spent a year and a half refining your body and taking secret medicines at the fourth-rank stage, then studied the secret diagrams four times before grasping hidden force. After three more years of cultivation and accumulating hidden force, you broke through to fifth-rank Great Wu Shi."

"I'm less gifted than you—I needed five viewings of the secret diagrams to grasp hidden force—but my family's wealth let me take far more medicine, and I only needed two years of cultivation to accumulate enough hidden force and break through."

"And Xia Xia Shidi? He's been under Master's tutelage for less than a year, and in total, he's only studied the secret diagrams twice—yet now he's already a Fifth-Rank Great Wu Shi! There's no comparison!"

Master Yuchi Xiao opened his mouth, then closed it, his chest tight.

So I've been flattering myself all along by even comparing myself to Xia Xia Shidi!

"Absolutely no comparison! If Xia Xia Shidi hadn't been born in some remote northern town and wasted so much time, but had trained under Master from the start, he'd probably already be a Sixth-Rank Great Wu Shi—even Gu Ren would pale beside him," Jiao Jiao Yongbao added another knife to Master Yuchi Xiao's wound.

Xia Daoming glanced at Jiao Jiao Yongbao, wanting to tell him he could go even bolder—just delete "probably."

"That's right, that's right. Compared to Daoming, Master Yuchi Xiao is nowhere near him—even Gu Ren, I think, would lose to him," Liang Liang Jingtang said.

A single sword, a throat cut.

Master Yuchi Xiao stared blankly at the sky, tears welling but unable to fall.

It's bad enough he's better—but why add the word "far"?!

I'm still your senior disciple! Give me some face!

"Good, good! I never imagined that in my old age, I'd take on a disciple like you—loyal, righteous, gifted in martial Dao, and sharp-witted! My Qianjiao Qianjiao Wu Guan has a worthy successor!"

Liang Liang Jingtang grew more and more excited, stepping forward to clap Xia Daoming's shoulder hard, tears streaming down his aged face.

Seeing Liang Liang Jingtang moved to tears, Master Yuchi Xiao felt both joy and a strange sorrow, stepping forward to say: "Master, now that Xia Xia Shidi manages the Qianjiao Qianjiao Wu Guan, you can rest easy—let me accompany you on this journey."

Liang Liang Jingtang turned to Master Yuchi Xiao, his gaze complex.

Even ants cling to life. Liang Liang Jingtang was barely past sixty—how could he willingly die in the Mang Mountains?

Master Yuchi Xiao was in his prime, his blood and qi surging, a Fifth-Rank Great Wu Shi—if he came along, they could watch each other's backs, giving Liang Liang Jingtang a better chance of survival.

But then Master Yuchi Xiao would have to risk his life.

And Master Yuchi Xiao had served him faithfully, without complaint, for years, managing the Qianjiao Qianjiao Wu Guan, gaining little in return—now he was being asked to risk his life while the hall was entrusted to Xia Daoming. It was clearly unfair.

"I've devoted myself entirely to martial Dao—why would I have any interest in managing a hall? I should go with Master!" Xia Daoming quickly said.

The region around Mangzhou's capital was already in chaos; his path to strengthening his meridians had grown even harder. How could he miss this chance? Xu Family was forming a team, acting as guides, entering the Mang Mountains to hunt Frost Rabbits!

Besides, Master Liang Liang Jingtang was truly kind—Xia Daoming couldn't bear to let him risk his life alone!

"You've devoted yourself entirely to martial Dao?" Master Yuchi Xiao and the others stared, then sneered—even Liang Liang Jingtang did.

Who, devoted to martial Dao, kept four young, beautiful maids at home?

Don't they know the world has male servants too?

Devoted to martial Dao? Pfft. Don't believe a word of it—you're devoted to lust!

"What's that look for? I really am devoted to martial Dao!" Xia Daoming said seriously.

"You're devoted to martial Dao and keep four beautiful maids? Afraid it'll slow your draw speed?" Zhuo Zhuo Xingyi sneered.

The spear shoots like a dragon!

Besides fist and foot techniques, the most famed skill of Qianjiao Qianjiao Wu Guan was the Dragon-Serpent Nine Spears.

"Brother Zhuo, can't you speak more delicately? I'm a woman!" Xiao Xiao Qiang rolled her eyes.

"Sister, you're overthinking it. Brother Zhuo's a proper man—he meant the Dragon-Serpent Nine Spears!" Xia Daoming blurted out.

The meeting hall fell silent.

Even Xiao Xiao Qiang, who ran a brothel, blushed crimson at Xia Daoming's words, furious and embarrassed, raising her tiny fists to pummel him like rain.

"Overthinking? Where did I overthink? Where?!"

"Cough, cough, Sister, I'm wrong, I'm wrong—I'm the one who overthought!" Xia Daoming raised his hands in surrender.

"Hah!" Liang Liang Jingtang and the others burst into laughter.

"Pfft!" Xiao Xiao Qiang suddenly couldn't hold back a giggle, glancing at Xia Daoming with a flirtatious look. "I told Miss Wanqing you were the most honest one—but turns out you're the sneakiest!"

"Cough, cough, I really am the most honest!" Xia Daoming said.

Everyone sneered, full of disdain.

"Master, I'm serious," Xia Daoming said helplessly, looking at Liang Liang Jingtang.

"Cough, cough, fine. After what happened with Gu Xu Shixiong, I've come to terms with it. Better to let flow than to block. Martial cultivators naturally have strong blood and qi—you're at the peak of youth. Relax when you need to."

"But times are chaotic—if you truly want to go out and have fun, go to your sister's place. At least there you'll have protection," Liang Liang Jingtang said.

"Exactly! That way, the water doesn't flow to someone else's field!" Xiao Xiao Qiang said.

Xia Daoming looked at Xiao Xiao Qiang with admiration.

His sister who ran a brothel was truly different—her driving skills, her speed—he, as a reincarnator, was humbled.

But now was not the time to admire his sister's driving.

He had to convince Master to take him—not Master Yuchi Xiao.

If words failed, he'd have to settle it with strength.

"Master, Brother, Sister—I'm serious. I truly am devoted to martial Dao, which is why I broke through to Fifth-Rank Great Wu Shi so quickly."

"Besides, this mission is extremely dangerous. Only the strongest should accompany Master."

"What? Daoming, you think you're stronger than me?" Master Yuchi Xiao leapt to his feet.

"Heh, Brother, we're both Fifth-Rank Great Martial Masters. I'm younger, so my strength must be greater," Xia Daoming said.

"Uh!" Everyone stared, stunned.

After his shock, Liang Liang Jingtang scowled: "Nonsense. Your Master Yuchi Xu Shixiong is only thirty-four. His blood and qi have merely passed their peak—he finds it hard to break through, but he's far from aged."

"In raw power, he's cultivated and refined for years—how could a young man who just broke through compare?"

"Besides, your Master Yuchi Xu Shixiong has spent years mastering fist and foot techniques and has far more combat experience—you can't match that."

"Heh, you see, Daoming! In talent and potential, I can't match you—but in real strength, you're still far behind!" Master Yuchi Xiao smirked.

"Fine. Words mean nothing. Master Yuchi Xu Shixiong, let's spar. If you lose, you stay behind to manage the hall."

The meeting hall fell silent.

After a long moment, Liang Liang Jingtang patted Xia Daoming's shoulder. "It's good you have this spirit. Let your Master Yuchi Xu Shixiong spar with you—I want to see your true strength. But if you lose, don't argue anymore. Stay and help me manage the hall."

"Heh, Master, I won't lose!" Xia Daoming grinned.

"It's good you're confident—but too much confidence is dangerous," Master Yuchi Xiao smiled.

Xia Daoming smiled, stepped calmly out of the meeting hall, and walked to the center of the training ground.

Master Yuchi Xiao shook his head helplessly and followed him onto the training ground.

Liang Liang Jingtang and the others followed, standing at the edge of the training ground, ready to watch.